Category: environmental economics

Vanadium flow batteries may provide a good alternative for lithium ion batteries for grid level storage

August 27, 2022

Incorporating more renewable energy into the electricity grid pose important challenges with respect to maintaining constant supply of electricity, and enabling grid-level stability. This pertains to the intermittency of many renewable source of power such as solar and wind power, where excess generation may occur during times of high insolation or strong winds, as well … More Vanadium flow batteries may provide a good alternative for lithium ion batteries for grid level storage

Storage of compressed air in saline aquifers represents a form of energy storage

December 23, 2020

Renewable energy such as wind and solar power suffers from one major limitation: their intermittency. While the problem could be ameliorated with the coupling of large storage batteries with wind or solar power generation facilities, there remains a need to find low cost, durable, high capacity and robust methods for storing excess electricity generated by … More Storage of compressed air in saline aquifers represents a form of energy storage

Optimal proportion of renewable energy in energy mix for maximising energy resilience and reducing carbon emissions

November 6, 2020

Increasing use of renewable energy such as solar and wind power could help us reduce carbon emissions and is an approach for helping cities, states and countries to decarbonise their economies. However, renewable energy’s intermittency nature such as those associated with solar and wind energy meant that its increasing use carries significant risks for energy … More Optimal proportion of renewable energy in energy mix for maximising energy resilience and reducing carbon emissions

Towards zero liquid discharge desalination

March 25, 2020

Desalination processes that converts seawater into drinking water inevitably generates a high salt solution known as brine, which has to be discharged. Currently, the concentrated brine is typically discharged into the sea. However, concerns have arisen on the potential ecological impacts of the concentrated brine on marine life. Specifically, concentrated brine is known to affect … More Towards zero liquid discharge desalination

Relative merits of hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric cars

January 23, 2020

Currently, hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric vehicles are the two main types of zero emissions vehicles available. While both do not emit any air pollutants at street level, their use inevitably would generate carbon dioxide emissions during the production and transport of hydrogen as well as the generation of electricity at power plants using … More Relative merits of hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric cars

Could renewable energy compete without feed-in tariffs from governments?

September 12, 2019

Feed-in tariffs are currently required to enable renewable energy such as those from wind and solar to compete with conventional power from oil, coal and gas. Thus, could renewable energy compete with conventional power without feed-in tariffs from governments in the foreseeable future? The answer is very likely no, given the higher cost structure for … More Could renewable energy compete without feed-in tariffs from governments?

Availability of space constraints the deployment of solar power in high density cities

July 12, 2019

Amongst renewable energy sources, solar power suffers from linear scaling between surface area and power output. Specifically, the increase in power output of solar power is directly proportional to the surface area used. Hence, to generate a large amount of power for catering to the energy needs of a large city, large amount of surface … More Availability of space constraints the deployment of solar power in high density cities

Increasing adoption of electric vehicles would place an increased demand on the electricity grid

May 21, 2019

Although currently a niche market, electric vehicles are expected to constitute a significant fraction of all vehicles in the medium-term; thereby, placing an increased demand for electricity for charging purposes from the grid. Whether renewable or fossil fuel fired, new power generation capacity would need to be installed to cater for increased electricity demand for … More Increasing adoption of electric vehicles would place an increased demand on the electricity grid

Challenges of pricing electricity for homes connected to a central battery with feeds from renewable energy and grid electricity

February 18, 2019

Consider the case where a high-rise apartment block is connected to a battery that stores energy from solar photovoltaic panels and the electricity grid. Typically, the battery would discharge electricity to homes in the apartment block whether the electricity supply comes from solar panels or the grid. Hence, the scenario opens up serious questions on … More Challenges of pricing electricity for homes connected to a central battery with feeds from renewable energy and grid electricity

Subsidies for electric car distorts the car market and incurs a cost to taxpayers

February 4, 2019

Schemes for improving the market uptake of electric cars for improving air quality typically involves some form of subsidies for the purchase, operation or ownership of electric cars. One such scheme involves a subsidy for the purchase price of electric cars. Implemented in California, U.S., it distorts the car market and represents a cost to … More Subsidies for electric car distorts the car market and incurs a cost to taxpayers